TV Critics: Unforgotten; Death in Paradise; Spies

“I like so much about Unforgotten. That it is not trying to be too smartarse (Sherlock?) clever. Or Scandi-bleak. It is also human, and it never lets you forget that the slimy chap is not just a case in a case; he was also someone’s husband, father, son and friend.”Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“This is proper, thought-through writing in which character, plot and meaning are all in play. It feels fresh.”Andrew Billen, The Times

Death in Paradise, BBC1

“It’s hard to dislike Death in Paradise’s blend of relentlessly upbeat whimsy. The best, and worst, thing you can say about it is that it is the crime drama equivalent of bubblegum pop – its vacuity is part and parcel of its charm.”Gerard O’Donovan, The Telegraph

“Death In Paradise requires no effort at all. It’s the TV equivalent of a snooze on a warm beach. From the seafront bar which is never crowded, to the sunset views at Humphrey’s beach shack, everything is perfect. This isn’t a crime show, it’s a five-star holiday destination.”Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“The sun-kissed Caribbean beaches and steaming jungle slopes provide the ideal visual comfort blanket at the bleakest point of the year. It doesn’t really matter that the same things keep happening, in fact that’s the point of it. It’s a tradition.”Matt Baylis, Daily Express

“Spies is made by the same people who made the addictive SAS: Who Dares Wins, and follows a similar formula. But it is less successful televisually because watching hard men being broken in special forces training is more fun than seeing people try to come up with convincing cover stories or trying to follow a man around Brixton.”Sam Wollaston, The Guardian

“A kind of Apprentice for folk who fancy their chances in espionage. The insights into the personality traits required of spies are at this stage more interesting than the potential recruits.”Andrew Billen, The Times